Tension device for sheet material



April 23, 1946. H. P. FARIS ETAL 2,393,822

' TENSION DEVICE FOR SHEET MATERIAL Original Filed Oct; 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS HAROLD P. PARIS JOHN E. WHITE M ke/w? W ATTORNEYS April 23, 1946. H. P. FARls EI'AL TENSION DEVICE FOR SHEET MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Shef 2 Original Filed 001;. 28,1940

PIC-3.3.

INVENTORS HAROLD P. FARIS JOHN E.WH|TE ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 23, 1946 s PATENT OFFICE TENSION DEVICE FOR SHEET MATERIAL Harold P. Faris, Philadelphia, Pa., and John E.

te, Trenton, N.

.17., assignors to National Automotive Fibres, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a cornotation of Delaware Original application October 28, 1940, Serial No.

., 363,196, now Patent No. 2,347,816, dated May Divided and this application April 24,

. p 1943, Serial No. 484,433

8 Claims. (01. 242-154) This invention relates generally to carpet making machines for manufacturing carpet of the cemented pile type and constitutes a division of our application filed October 28, 1940, bearing Serial No. 363,196, now Patent No. 2,347,816, dated May 2, 1944.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide an improved conveyor structure including means in the form of an endless belt conveyor operable at a predetermined rate to-pull carpet material, such as burlap covered rubber, through the machine, and means in the form of two cooperating endless belts operable at a slower rate and adapted to apply a frictional drag to the carpet material so that it will be uniformly tensioned as it is advanced by the first mentioned means through the machine.

Another object is to provide a conveyor structure wherein the cooperating belts are relatively adjustable to vary the tension applied to the advancing carpet material.

Another object is to provide a conveyor structure that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to install and eflicient in operation.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considering in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine for making a cemented pile carpet, and showing the conveyor structure embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the conveyor structure embodying our invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 2. Referring now to the drawings, m, H and I2 respectively are endless belts of a conveyor structure embodying our invention and constituting a part of a machine illustrated generally in Figure 1 for manufacturing carpet of the cemented pile type. t

As usual, the carpet material l3, such as burlap covered rubber, is advanced through the machine with the burlap side thereof uppermost so that the upper surface of the burlap may be coated or covered with an adhesive substance or cement as the carpet material passes through an adhesive applying mechanism l4. 1

The belts In and II are at the entrance end of the machine and cooperate with each other to withdraw the carpet material l3 from a roll l5, while the belt I2 is employed for advancingthe carpet material l3 through the adhesive applying mechanism l4 and over suitable rotary heaters l6 which vibrate the carpet material after the adhesive substance is applied to the upper surface thereof.

Cut fibers, such as cut hair or the like, are discharged 1 from one or more distributors (not shown) above the belt l2 onto the adhesive coating as the carpet material I3 is vibrated so that 10 such fibers will be imbedded in the adhesive coating to form the cemented pile carpet.

In the present instance the endless belt I0 is reeved upon spaced rolls 20 and 2| respectively, carried by shafts 22 and 23 respectively journaled in a stationary frame 24 of the machine and in a frame 25'pivoted midway its ends upon the frame 24 of the machine, ,while the endless belt H is reeved upon spaced rolls 3!! and 3| respectively, carried by shafts 32 and 33 respectively journaled in the frame 24 of the machine and in the pivoted frame 25. Preferably the bearings '34 and 35 for the shafts 23 and 33 are slidable longitudinally of the frame so that the rolls 2| and BI respectively are independently adjustable longitudinally of the pivoted frame 25. Any suitable means such as set screws 40 and 4| respectively threadedly engaging opposite ends of the pivoted frame25 and engaging the bearings 34 and 35 for the shafts 23 and 33 may be employed for adjusting and holding the rolls 2| and 3| relative to each other.

By referring to Figure 2 it will be noted that the rolls 30 and 3| are disposed in staggered relation to the rolls 2| and 20 so that the adjacent portions of the belts Ill and l I are nested or interlocked between the innermost rolls 2| and 3| respectively and thereby effectively grip the carpet material therebetween.

To vary the gripping action of the belts l0 and II we have provided the pivoted frame 25 with suitable ratchet mechanism 50 which preferably includes a ratchet wheel 5| fixed on a rock shaft 5|a journaled in frame 24 and rigid with frame 25, an actuating lever 52 fixed on shaft 5m and carrying a spring-pressed dog 53 engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 5|, and a pair of .spaced spring-pressed dogs 54 and 55 respectively carried by a bracket 56 rigidwith the frame 24 of the machine and also engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 5|. Thus, an increased tension will be applied to the belts l0 and II, causing them to grip the carpet material l3 more firmly when the pivoted frame 25 is adjusted in a counterclockwise direction by suitable manipu- 5 lation of the actuating lever 52.

sioned uniformly as it is Any suitable drive means (not shown) may be provided for one or more of the shafts 22, 23, 32 and 33 respectively for the rolls 20, 2|, 30 and-3| to drive the belts l and II so that the carpet material l3 will be withdrawn from the roll l5 and advanced toward the adhesive applying mechanism l4. Likewise, any suitable drive means (not shown) may be provided for the belt I! so that it may advance the carpet material l3 through the adhesive applying mechanism l4 and over the rotary heaters 16 to the discharge end of the machine. Howeve the arrangement is preferably such that the cooperating belts l0 and l I operate at-a somewhat slower rate than the beltlfand thereby apply a frictional drag to the carpet material l3 advanced by the belt l2 through the machine.

In use, the set screws 40 and 4| and the ratchet v mechanism 50 may be readily adjusted to provide the belts I0 and H with the proper nested relation to effectively engage the carpet material l3 therebetween so that the tension desired may be obtained.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a, machine of the class described having means for advancing sheet material; means for applying a frictional drag to said material so that it will be under tension while being advanced, comprising two pairs of longitudinally spaced rolls, endless flexible conveyors reeved causing it to be tenfrictional engagement with opposite sides of the upon said rolls, one conveyor to each pair, the

'rolls of one pair being staggered relative to the rolls of the other pair in the direction of advancement of the sheet material and one roll of each pair extending between the rolls of the other pair to deform adjacent portions of the conveyors and exert a gripping force on the sheet material therebetween, and means for adjusting one roll of each pair transversely of the conveyors to vary the gripping action on the sheet material.

2. In a machine of the class described having means for advancing sheet material; means for applying a frictional drag to said material so that it will be under tension while being advanced, comprising two pairs of longitudinally spaced rolls having parallel axes, endless conveyors reeved upon said rolls, one conveyor to each pair, the rolls of one pair being staggered relative to the rolls of the other pair whereby adjacent portions of said conveyors between the innermost of said rolls are in nested relation with each other to grip therebetween sheet material as it is advanced, acommon support for one roll of each pair, and means for swinging the support about an axis parallel to the roll axes and located between the rolls carried thereby to vary the gripping force exerted by the conveyors on the sheet material.

3. In a machine of the class described having means for advancing sheet material; means for applying a. frictional drag to said material so that it will be under tension while being advanced, comprising two pairs of longitudinally spaced rolls, endless conveyors reeved upon said rolls, one conveyor to each pair, the rolls of one pair being staggered relative to the-rolls of the other pair whereby adjacent portions of said conveyors between the innermost of said rolls are in nested relation with each other to grip therebetween sheet material as it is advanced, a common support for one roll of each pair pivoted for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the roll axes and located between the rolls carried thereby and means for adjusting said support terial, one roll of each pair advancing sheet material, rolls for said belts, a member carrying one roll for each belt, and means for supporting the member for rocking movement about an axis extending between the rolls carried by the member in parallel relation to the axes of the latter rolls.

5. In a machine of the class described having means for advancing sheet material; means for applying a frictional drag to said material so that it will be under tension while being advanced, comprising a pair of fixed rolls, a swingable frame intermediate said fixed rolls, a second pair of rolls carried at opposite ends of said frame a belt carried by one pf said fixed rolls and the remote one of said second pair of rolls, and a second belt carried by the other of said fixed rolls and the other one of said second pair of rolls, said frame being swingable about an axis parallel to the axes of said rolls so as to apply variable pressure to material passing between the adjacent surfaces of said belts.

6. In a machine of the class described having means for advancing sheet material; means for applying a frictional drag to said material so that it will be under tension while being advanced, comprising two pairs of longitudinally spaced rolls, endless flexible belts reeved upon said rolls, one belt to each pair, the rolls of one pair being staggered relative to the rolls of the other pair in the direction of advancement of the sheet material, one roll of each pair extending between the rolls of the other pair to deform adjacent portions of the'belts and exert a gripping force on the advancing sheet material therebetween, a stationary frame, a rock shaft in said frame, a frame rigid intermediate its ends with said rock shaft so as to rock therewith, shafts for one pair of rolls journaled in said stationary and rockable frames respectively, shafts for the other pair of rolls journaled in'sa'id stationary and rockable frames respectively, the journals for the shafts carried by said rockable frame being adjustable longitudinally in said rockable frame, and means for varying the gripping force exerted b said deformed portions of said endless belts, including means for rocking said rock shaft.

7. In a machine of the class described having means for advancing sheet material; means for applying a frictional drag to said material so that it will be under tension while being advanced, comprising two pairs of longitudinally spaced rolls, endless flexible belts reeved upon said rolls, one'belt to each pair, the rolls of one pair being staggered relative to the rolls of the other pair in the direction of advancement of the sheet maextending between the rolls of the other pair to deform adjacent portions of the belts and exert a gripping force on the advancing sheet material therebetween, a stationary frame, a rock shaft in said frame, a, frame rigid intermediate its ends with said rock shaft so as to rock therewith, shafts for one pair of rolls journaled in said stationary and rockable frames respectively, shaft for the other pair of rolls journaled in said stationary and rockable frames respectively, and means for varying the gripping force exerted by said deformed portions of said endless belts, including means for rocking said rock shaft. t

8. In a machine of the class described having means for advancing sheet material; means for applying a frictional drag to said material so that it will be under tension while being advanced, comprising two pairs of longitudinally spaced rolls, endless flexible belts reeved upon said rolls, one belt to each pair, the rolls of'one pair being staggered relative to the rolls of the other pair in the direction of advancement of the sheet material, one roll of each pair extending between the rolls of the other pair to deform adjacent portions of the belts and exert a gripping force on the adframes respectively, shafts for the other pair'of rolls journaled in said stationaryand rockable frames respectively, and means for varying, the gripping force exerted by said deformed portions of said endless belts, including ratchet mechanism carried by said stationary frame and rock shaft and adapted to rock the latter. 

